Pass Labs vs Mark Levinson vs Parasound - best 2 channel amp used under $2,500?

Pass X250 all day long. The Parasound A21 and A23 are very competitive amps in their respective price points but not in the same league of a Pass... yes I have listened to them and the older one’s. I think you’re going to have to dig way back to get a Levinson at $2500 and although good in their days the Pass is more refined than vintage Levinson’s. I dragged home several older Levinsons before I bought my Pass. To my ears and on my system the Pass was just better. The Pass probably won’t fool most listeners it’s a tube amp but closer than most. If you’re budget was considerably more, newer Levinsons are a different story. Cap concerns on older Levinson amps especially the 300 series.

A lot of other really good manufacturers to look at such as McCormack, Conrad Johnson, Bedini, Pliniius, Odyssey, and plenty more so I wouldn’t limit your choices.

if you’re considering selling your preamp as well maybe bump your budget up a little and consider an integrated amp by Hegel, Modwright or Ayre. For the power you’re looking for, the Modwright KWI 200 might be something to read up on.

Good luck

Forgot to add that from a cold start, at least my Pass amp doesn’t really come alive; it doesn’t sound horrible by any means. I do find if I leave it on for twenty four hours it sounds its best.

I did discover after adding dedicated circuits and better receptacles that I felt the amp was starving for power before a little. Nelson Pass notes in the manual, power cords don’t make a difference which I found isn’t accurate and indeed they do make a nice improvement.

My Pass is far from clinical or cold. To say they sound like older ARC amps is the first I’ve heard of that. As far as not being robust my amp has no problem making my Aerial Acoustics speakers which need power to come alive with plenty of authority. Now to say it has the slam as some older Krells and others, no. Pass have plenty of slam but better balance and disappear - not bringing a lot of attention to one thing over another. I’ve had amps amps that really made the bass really stand out but I felt it was overly done and brought too much attention to it. I personally want my gear to disappear or get out of the way so I can enjoy the music.

I’ve listened to the Parasounds and I felt they sound very good but not as open or refined as mine and other Pass amps I’ve heard on my and other systems. No doubt system synergy has a lot to play with how one piece sounds with others. I had an ARC 100.2 which is only 100 watts and I’d take that over a Parasound A23 in a heartbeat, even being a much older amp and a little less power . Again not bashing Parasound... they make very good equipment for the money. I have not heard the JC1’s so I can’t speak for those but I know they also get great press and probably more direct competition with Pass and others.

Most my listening with Parasound amps has been on Magnepan 3.7i and 1.7i’s and several Monitor Audio’s which they’ve played very well with. Just mentioning this because I think a lot of people compare their gear to stuff they really haven’t heard. As always it best to hear for yourself and understand some gear regardless how good it is, it may not have the synergy with some gear.